Research & reports
Peer-reviewed research and reports on community urban agriculture, food education, composting, welfare and more.
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9385 results(277 / 376)
The role of urban agriculture in Philadelphia: a sociological analysis from a city perspective: summary report: Philadelphia, USA 02/12/2015-03/10/2015
2015Charlotte Prové · Ghent University Academic Bibliography (Ghent University) · United States (Philadelphia)
This project aimed to understand the dynamics of urban agriculture in Philadelphia and formulate how governance processes can address its developments. A literature study and interviews with diverse stakeholders, including farmers, project founders, public officers, and researchers, were conducted. The City of Philadelphia's Greenworks plan sets a goal to establish twelve commercial agriculture projects over the next eight years, developing necessary infrastructure such as distribution facilities and water sources.
PolicyEconomicsCommunitySCALING UP FRUIT AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION: IS MACHINERY SHARING A POSSIBILITY?
2015Georgeanne M. Artz, Linda Naeve, Artz, Georgeanne M., Naeve, Linda · AgEcon Search (University of Minnesota, USA) · United States (Iowa)
A study in Iowa indicated that small-scale farmers considering scaling up production face challenges balancing increased labor costs with the need for specialized machinery. The study collaborated with five groups of farmers who shared different pieces of machinery, developing sharing agreements. While the article provides an overview of the benefits and challenges of machinery sharing, the abstract does not state specific findings that machinery sharing resolved economic viability issues.
Economic viabilityEconomicsCSA & TeikeiApplication of the Green Revolution Game
2015Maria Boștenaru Dan · Open Journal of Ecology · Italy (Pavia)
The Green Revolution Game is employed in teaching at Karlsruhe University in Germany and Ohio University in the US. This game is used not only for simulation but also as a basis for generating data for study projects, analyzing educational approaches, the applicability of game theory for simulating water scarcity hazards in rice cultivation, and its transferability from India to the context of high-yield rice and urban agriculture in Pavia, Italy.
Food educationUrban–rural linkageBiodiversityClimate changeRadiomonitoring of the Opole industrial district
2015Piotr Godyń, Maria Zielińska, Agnieszka Dołhańczuk-Śródka, Zbigniew Ziembik · Geology Geophysics & Environment · Poland
Soil samples were collected from 19 sites around the Opole industrial zone in Poland to determine the influence of the local metallurgical industry on soil contamination with metals, using Pb-210 as a contamination tracer. Results indicated that the metallurgical industry is not a source of environmental pollution in the immediate vicinity. Excessive lead concentrations ranged from 1 Bq/kg d.m. to 100 Bq/kg d.m. but were not strongly correlated with distances from the presumed source of contamination.
Contamination & food safetyHealthPolicyThe effect of education plus access on perceived fruit and vegetable consumption in a rural African American community intervention
2015Ellen Barnidge, Elizabeth A. Baker, Mario Schootman, Freda Motton, Marjorie Sawicki, Frank Rose · Health Education Research · United States
This quasi-experimental study in rural Missouri evaluated an intervention providing nutrition education and community garden access to African Americans to increase fruit and vegetable consumption. At mid-intervention, the intervention county showed lower hypertension and BMI. Both nutrition education participation and community garden access were independently associated with perceived fruit and vegetable consumption, with the strongest effect when combined. However, individuals with access but without education had a reduced likelihood of consuming recommended servings of fruits and vegetables.
CommunityFood educationHealthWelfareGreen Facade (Vertical Greening): Benefits and Threats
2015Mehdi Rakhshandehroo, Mohd Johari Mohd Yusof, Meysam Deghati Najd · Applied Mechanics and Materials · Global
A 2015 study discussed various systems of green facades (vertical greening) as a method of sustainable development in dense urban areas. Based on existing research, the study indicated that green facades offer environmental benefits such as mitigating the urban heat island effect, increasing biodiversity and ecological value, insulating against environmental impact, improving outdoor and indoor comfort, enhancing social and psychological well-being, and improving air quality for city dwellers.
BiodiversityClimate changeDIYFood production in the city: (re)negotiating land, food and property
2015Gerda R. Wekerle, Michael Classens · Local Environment · Canada (Toronto)
This paper examines approaches to urban agriculture in Toronto that renegotiate land access for food production between private property owners and landless growers. It documents three methods challenging current property relations: temporary use of development sites, redesignating suburban backyards for farmer training and production, and garden sharing of private backyards. These initiatives promote collaboration and a sharing economy to expand urban agriculture's land base.
PolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsSPECIES AND CULTIVARS OF TREES AND SHRUBS SUITABLE FOR URBAN AGRICULTURE
2015Viorica B Lan, Ioana Ugui · · Romania (Bucharest)
This study aims to present the results of a research synthesis developed from 2007 to 2014 at USAMV Bucharest, concerning the sustainability of fruit growing ecosystems and increasing the diversity of tree and shrub species adapted to urban agriculture. It highlights the importance of encouraging more trees and diversifying species in urban areas, as feeding the growing urban population with healthy food is a national strategic issue amidst increasing urbanization.
BiodiversityClimate changeUrban–rural linkagePolicies Fostering Multifunctional Urban Agriculture in the City of Zurich
2015Ingrid Jahrl, Otto Schmid · Organic Eprints (International Centre for Research in Organic Food Systems, and Research Institute of Organic Agriculture) · Switzerland
In Zurich, Switzerland, urban agriculture policies have evolved towards fulfilling multiple functions. This multifunctional approach aims to provide diverse services for city dwellers, fostering biodiversity, offering attractive recreational landscapes, and creating educational opportunities, with food production being a part but not the main goal. The city administration has implemented various support mechanisms to ensure the concept's implementation and maintenance.
PolicyBiodiversityFood educationCommunityAn Exploration of Health, Nutrition and Community Experiences of Gardeners at Wangari Gardens
2015Tracy George, Debbie Humphries, Trace Kershaw, Josh Singer · The FASEB Journal · United States (Washington, DC)
This study explored the health and community experiences of gardeners at Wangari Gardens, a community garden in Washington, DC, through 17 semi-structured qualitative interviews. Gardeners chose to garden for improved nutrition, chronic disease management, hobbies, and connection to nature and community. They continued gardening for relationships, physical benefits, harvests, and self-efficacy, indicating community gardens provide multi-faceted individual and community benefits.
HealthCommunityFood educationMunicipal solid waste composts as organic inputs in vegetable gardening cropping systems in Mahajanga, Madagascar. [P141]
2015Tovonarivo Rafolisy, Heriniaina Ramahefarison, Dominique Massé · · Madagascar (Mahajanga)
Two experiments in Mahajanga, Madagascar, compared municipal solid waste (MSW) composts with conventional organic inputs (poultry or pig manure) in leaf cropping systems over two three-month seasons. MSW composts resulted in yields higher than pig manure and urea, and similar to poultry manure. However, monitoring soil mineral nitrogen levels revealed significant accumulation under certain conditions, indicating a possible source of environmental pollution by nitrates.
CompostOrganic cyclePeri-urban agricultureUrban farmers and urban agriculture in Johannesburg: Responding to the food resilience strategy
2015Naudé Malan · Agrekon · South Africa (Johannesburg)
This article examines urban farmers' perspectives on Johannesburg's urban agriculture policy, part of its "food resilience" strategy, using participatory and social science research methods. Through facilitated workshops, farmers identified key themes for organizational development and urban agriculture, including Land and Water, External Stakeholders, Training, Tools and Technology, Marketing, Organizational Development, Permaculture, and Security. The findings provide crucial insights for policy implementation in Johannesburg.
PolicyCommunityFood sovereignty & justiceEconomicsAgricultura urbana e conservação da agrobiodiversidade: um estudo de caso Cáceres, Mato Grosso
2015Luciene Rodrigues, Maria Antônia Carniello · Cadernos de Agroecologia · Brazil
This study aimed to document the use and agricultural management practices of tuberous plants by residents in urban backyards in Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil, using semi-structured interviews. Nine species were recorded, including Manihot esculenta, with carrot, sweet potato, ginger, and saffron cited for medicinal use (8.3% to 16.6%). Planting followed seasons and lunar phases, and soil fertility was corrected with organic fertilizer and sawdust.
BiodiversityDIYOrganic cycleUrban Gardening Realities: The Example Case Study of Portsmouth, England
2015Alan Hallsworth, Alfred Wong · International journal on food system dynamics · United Kingdom (Portsmouth)
This empirical case study examined the potential for urban gardening to contribute to individual food security. Focusing on Portsmouth, England, the study found that prevailing economic and social structures hamper the likelihood that urban gardening can offer much greater food security. Realistically, contemporary urban gardening most closely resembles a middle-class pursuit for personal enjoyment, rather than a significant contributor to food security.
Limited or null effectEconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceCommunityANÁLISE DE AÇÕES EXTENSIONISTAS NA IMPLANTAÇÃO DE HORTAS ESCOLARES DE BASE ECOLÓGICA, SEUS EFEITOS E DESAFIOS NO CONTEXTO EDUCACIONAL
2015José Tobias Marks Machado, Jeferson Tonin, Evandro Pedro Schneider · SHILAP Revista de lepidopterología · Brazil
This study, conducted in two schools in Cerro Largo - RS, Brazil, during 2013, performed a post-implementation analysis of ecologically based school gardens introduced through a university extension program. Positive results included the proliferation of similar projects. However, significant difficulties were emphasized in integrating the school gardens with disciplinary education, attributed to existing conservatism in the educational context.
Governance failureFood educationCommunityHealthOrganic cycleThe dynamics of an expanding community economy
2015Luke Drake · · United States
This study examined the role of networks in producing community gardens. Focusing on community gardening in New Jersey, USA, the research involved a survey of 445 community gardening organizations in the U.S. and Canada, discourse analysis of archival documents from the 1890s to 2010s, 48 semi-structured interviews in 19 municipalities, and two years of participant-observation. These methods revealed a complex web of resource flows and the mechanisms through which they are configured.
CommunityPolicyEconomicsPrivilege and Allyship in Nonprofit Food Justice Organizations
2015Danny Tarng · Journal of Agriculture Food Systems and Community Development · United States
This commentary discusses how nonprofit urban agriculture organizations, central to the U.S. food justice movement, can foster better allyship. It highlights that as the movement expands, the transformation of allies' privilege into empowerment at an organizational level is crucial for ongoing growth and success. The text provides insights into organizational policies and practices that can improve allyship.
Equity & displacementCommunityPolicyFood sovereignty & justiceEstablishing and researching school gardens in Oman as a resource for improving education and health outcomes
2015Abdullah Ambusaidi, Rashid Al‐Yahyai, Neil Taylor · Econstor (Econstor) · Oman
A school gardening project in Oman, funded by the Oman Research Council, aims to improve educational outcomes in the short term and dietary outcomes in the longer term, addressing the country's rising lifestyle diseases. The article reports on the project's rationale, conceptualization, and design, noting its potential for expansion to more schools and long-term economic benefits through local food production.
Food educationHealthEconomicsCommunityBotanical Gardens Are Well Positioned to Share Agriculture with the Public
2015Ari Novy, Devin Dotson · CSA News · United States
This article argues that botanical and public gardens are well-positioned to connect the public with agriculture, especially in urban centers where interest in food and agriculture is resurging. With over 70 million visitors annually and existing infrastructure, botanical gardens can serve as urban nodes for science-based education. They can perform plant research, offer education, interpret plant uses, and showcase plant beauty.
Food educationCommunityUrban–rural linkageGreening and “un”greening Adelaide, South Australia
2015Guy M. Robinson, Zhiling Liu · AIMS environmental science · Australia
This paper examines the contradictions between greening and "ungreening" in Adelaide, South Australia, focusing on the city's Park Lands and urban sprawl. It argues that urban sprawl, including recent development on prime farmland, has been antithetical to biodiversity maintenance and greening principles, reducing sustainability capacity. The paper identifies problems such as conflict between biodiversity and protecting residents in bushfire risk areas, stemming from a relaxed attitude towards low-density expansion.
Environmental trade-offsUrban–rural linkagePolicyBiodiversity도심주거지에 나타나는 일상문화로서의 도시정원가 뻐꾸기에 대한 고찰
2015Joo-Young 심주영Sim, Kyung-Jin 조경진Zoh · · South Korea (Seoul)
This study re-examines urban gardening as an overlooked daily culture in the urbanization process, focusing on the self-forming residential area of Haebangchon in Seoul, South Korea. It found that urban gardens in single-family housing areas function as a medium to improve the physical environment and strengthen relationships among residents. Urban gardening in Haebangchon has evolved across various spaces and attributes, reflecting changes in modern residential history and lifestyles, and contributes to unique local landscapes and community interaction.
CommunityHealthFood educationDiversifying for success
2015Christine Brown-Paul, Sam Ross · Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses · Australia
A Sydney-based company supplies hydroponics products and services to a diverse range of clients in Australia, including home growers, market gardeners, commercial growers, schools, and community gardens. This broad client base provides a competitive advantage in the current market.
DIYCommunityFood educationDigital agricultureEnabling occupational participation and social inclusion for people recovering from mental ill‐health through community gardening
2015Elise Whatley, Tracy Fortune, Anne Williams · Australian Occupational Therapy Journal · Australia (Melbourne)
This ethnographic study explored Mind 'Sprout', a supported community garden in inner-city Melbourne, Australia, to understand how it created a socially inclusive environment and enabled occupational participation for people recovering from mental ill-health. Data were collected through participant observation, six individual interviews, and document review. The study found that Sprout enabled social inclusion and occupational participation by fostering community, providing a flexible environment, and creating a learning environment.
CommunityHealthWelfareEpitomizing the Socioeconomic Impacts of Urban Agriculture in Bamenda
2015Bongajum Simplice Ngoran, Suinyuy Derrick Ngoran · Journals & Books Hosting (International Knowledge Sharing Platform) · Cameroon (Bamenda)
This article examines the socioeconomic implications of urban agriculture in Bamenda, Cameroon. It found that urban agriculture has improved living conditions, providing employment to about 11% of the working population and reducing food expenses for civil servants. However, urban agriculture in Bamenda lags behind other cities due to rudimentary tools, suggesting a need for advanced technology and improved seedlings.
EconomicsFood sovereignty & justiceHealthFood educationCommunityPerceived Effects of Community Gardening in Lower Mississippi Delta Gardening Participants
2015Alicia S. Landry, Nikki Chittendon, Christine Coker, Caitlin Weiss · Journal of Extension · United States
This article describes the perceived physical and psychological health impacts of community gardening on participants in the Mississippi Delta. Identified themes include gardening as an educational tool, increasing self-efficacy, and fostering responsibility for personal and community health. Additional benefits reported are exposure to new healthy foods, increased physical activity, and legacy building.
CommunityHealthFood education